The Will to Win

If you want a thing bad enough to go out and fight for it, to work day and night for it, to give up your time, your peace and your sleep for it

If all that you dream and scheme is about it and life seems useless and worthless without it

If you gladly sweat for, fret for and plan for it and lose all your terror of the opposition for it

If you simply go after that thing that you want with all of your capacity, strength and sagacity, faith, hope and confidence and stern for tenacity

If neither cold or poverty, famish or gout, sickness or pain of body and brain can keep you away from the thing that you want

If dogged and grim you be size and beget it, with the help of GOD you will get it.

~ Berton Braley

I heard this poem recited by Les Brown at the recent Success 2013 seminar in London, I was really struck by it, not just because of the dynamism of Les Brown but also the truth and power in these words. Les Brown before finishing his speech with this poem told us all the story of how he achieved what he has to date. The words in this poem describe just how he did it, equally so for all those who have risen to the top and inspire us greatly. The journey they go through to get there, all the hard work and effort is often missed or looked over, we can then hold them in this higher or better place that seems unreachable, but actually through their words and actions many of these highly successful and inspirational figures are teaching us exactly how to do it and that with enough focus and persistence anyone can. Here’s to winning, believe you can 🙂